National String Symphonia: Vaughan Williams – Five Variants

Join the NSS as they begin their 2016-17 season at BlackRock. Their opening performance will feature three influential composers’ interpretations of Theme and Variations, one of the cornerstones of string orchestra music. Featured on Sting’s 2006 album “Songs from the Labyrinth,” “Flow My Tears” is the inspiration for John Dowland’s “Lachrimae”, one of the earliest string ensemble works in existence. Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus” was based on a song written around the same time period. Works by Janacek, Dvorak, and Suk will complete the program.

Variety is not limited to the musical compositions. The NSS presents music in a variety of ways, and this concert will be no exception. From a single soloist to a small group to the full ensemble, presentations will be as varied as the music itself. In addition, Maestro Fanning’s conversations with the audience create an intimate and informative experience that engages all listeners.